Being Filled

This morning I would like to speak to us about being full. God has given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to endure the hardships of this world and to represent Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. The first thing required in order to be filled with something new is the vessel must be empty. God cannot fill a vessel full of something else. So then the first step to being filled by God is to empty the vessel. This morning we will look at 7 things God wants to fill us with.Let us begin in Romans chapter 15:

Romans 15:[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The Christian has the promise of God that breeds an internal joy and peace untouched by physical circumstances. These promises give us hope which the world does not have. It is the hope of a future. The hope of eternity. It is the hope of rescue. It is the hope of a new body. (Too many Christians are expecting God to give them a perfect body in this life and when it does not happen they become discouraged thinking they lack faith. God has not promised us this in this life but in eternity.) It is the hope of eternal life.We only have this hope through our belief. If we are doubting then what hope do we possess? But if we are walking in belief then we have joy and peace filling us inside out.

Look at verse 14:[14] And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

This emptying of self and believing the promises of God which then fills us with goodness. A change in our character, perspective and outlook brings a more positive attitude. It fills us with goodness. It gives us spiritual knowledge which the world does not have whereby we are able to reprove and correct each other with mildness.

Let us look at Colossians chapter 1:Col.1:[3] We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,[4] Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,[5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;[6] Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:[7] As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;[8] Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.[9] For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

The knowledge with which God will fill us is the knowledge of His will. This does not come by osmosis but through the preaching and study of His Word. Once we are filled with His knowledge then we obtain wisdom and understanding.Knowledge is knowing what to do.Wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge.Understanding is knowing why.

Turn to Ephesians chapter 3:

Eph.3:[14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,[16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

So then after the emptying of the vessel and the filling with joy and peace of believing, having obtained knowledge through the application of God’s Word and wisdom in the application we come to a deeper understanding of Christ’s love. With this understanding comes all that God wants us to be. A vessel fit for the Master’s use. We become like Christ and exhibit His love to those around us. What difference would it make in our lives if we loved the lost as much as God does?

Eph.5:[18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;[19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;[20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;[21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Once we have committed to God the control of the fleshly lusts and we allow the Holy Spirit to take total control on our innermost being we become a praising and grateful vessel. Not one looking for outward position to exercise control over others but a vessel cooperating with the body of Christ for the glory of the Father.

Turn to Philippians chapter 1:Phil.1:[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;[10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;[11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

When we have allowed the fulness of God and the Holy Spirit within we begin to enjoy the fruits of the Spirit, which are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.Being filled with these fruits from the inside out where w e then have an outward reflection of the inward change.

Finally, let us turn to John chapter 7:John.7:37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.[38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

What comes out of you is what is in you. This morning I ask each of us, what are we full of this morning?